Cheesecake 24, Papaya 27, Green Tea 6
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, During NIEE
Challenges: Papaya 27 (wrapped around my finger), Green Tea 6 (sundown), Cheesecake 24 (On a bright cloud of music, shall we fly? My Treat: Ren falls in love with Ani when…)
Toppings & Extras: Hot Fudge (Ani is technically at this point), Sprinkles (Ani), Malt (Summer Challenge 2010: Ice Cream 65 - Someone comes up with a creative nickname for your main character that may or may not have anything to do with their actual name), Gummy Bunnies (Origfic Bingo: Marriage)
Word Count: 1,717
Rating: PG
Summary: Ani and Ren have an important talk about the future
Notes: From my My Treat from Marina! A bit from the edits I’m doing of the NIEE proper. Almost pure Ani/Ren fluff!
Ani motioned the guard out of the way and burst back into Ren’s room, beaming. “Ren!”
He didn’t respond, gaze directed out his window.
“Ren,” she tried again and then her patience immediately ran out. “Renier Highcastle, on your feet,” she bellowed.
He shot up and saluted before he recognized what was going on. Then he glared. “That was not funny.”
She just grinned. “Sorry, Renny. It was the only way I could get your attention.”
To her amusement, he stuck his tongue out at her childishly. “Still not funny.”
“I have good news!”
“Yeah?” he asked without any energy.
“We’re going for a walk.”
“We’re doing what?” he asked blankly.
“We’re going for a walk.”
He still gazed at her like he didn’t understand the words.
“You, me, out of the room, walking…?”
“I…wait, what?”
She rolled her eyes. “Gods’ Breath, Renny, catch up. You an’ me are going to go for a walk right now around the castle.”
His expression darkened. “That’s not funny either.”
“I’m telling you the truth.” She twisted her hands nervously. “I thought it…it might cheer you up and make you happier.”
A glimmer of hope crackled to life in his eyes. “You aren’t kidding?”
“Of course not! I wouldn’t do that. Vlad’s promised if you behave we can do it at least once a week. I’m sure I could convince him of more.”
Before she could even finish the sentence, he stepped forward and hugged her. “Thank you,” he whispered.
She smiled, trying to contain some of her joy at the simple motion. “Welcome. Oh, and someone’s gonna come in while we’re gone and get your window open, so you’ll still have bars but you’ll also have fresh air.”
He pushed her back to arm’s length, eyes suspiciously wet. “Gods’ Breath, Ani, how…”
“Just smile once in a while, okay? And maybe try a laugh once a month,” she said, deciding to keep it simple and unattached, and then tugged at his hand. “C’mon, let’s go!”
He needed no second urging. As they left the room, Ren glanced at his guards, plainly expecting them to follow.
“They’re staying there,” she told him. “This place is crawling with guards. They’re around every corner and through every doorway. If you were to go running off or anything, you wouldn’t make it five feet without being tackled by some burly man in too much armor with a big old axe.”
Ren paused a moment to look at her.
“What?”
He shook his head but smiled. “Nothing at all, Ani.” Then he took a deep breath and sighed happily.
After a few moments, Ani couldn’t contain her joy and started skipping alongside his walk, humming under her breath. She finally shot him a mischievous look. “You should skip too.”
“Excuse me?”
“You should skip like me. Humming helps too.”
“I don’t really…I haven’t…what?” he managed, sounding desperate.
She grabbed his arm, ignoring his protests, and began skipping again. “Skip, Renny.”
He hesitated a second and then tried out a few skips before laughing. She skidded to a stop, leaving him to continue a few steps without her. “What? Did I do something wrong?”
“No, no, but…Ren, you laughed.”
He blinked. “I did, didn’t I?” He let out another quick laugh. “It feels good…to have something to laugh about.” Then he shot her what she could only consider a sly smile. “And someone to laugh with.”
She blushed and leaned forward, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek try and cover the reddening. “You have a nice laugh. You should try and use it more often.” She turned to continue, but a hand on her arm stopped her. As far as she could recall, it was one of the first times in their relationship that Ren had initiated physical contact - the hug had also been a shock.
“Thanks, Ani, really. I appreciate this so much.”
“My pleasure,” she said softly.
Now he held out his hand. “Let’s skip.”
She laughed, ducking her head briefly. “Let’s,” she said, taking it.
The two of them skipped out to the ramparts where they paused, slightly out of breath, to lean against the wall. “I’ve missed this,” Ren said after a moment, gesturing out at the farmyards below. “I’ve missed the view and I’ve missed being outdoors. It always drove my father nuts that I hated to be inside too long, although he understood and always said I’d grow out of it like he did.”
“Makes sense,” she said, staring resolutely out at the farms. He was merely grateful for the chance to get outside, but his gratitude would fade and he’d go back to barely tolerating her. Everyone did. Even Sorin could barely deal with her any more. “Would you hate it if you had to marry me?” she asked softly, pursing her lips as soon as the question was out and definitely not daring to look at him now.
His answer caught her by surprise. “Of course not, Ani.”
“But I’m always so…” She waved her hand helplessly to try and illustrate what she meant.
“It’s kind of refreshing.”
He’s just being nice, he’s just being nice, because he owes you. “I know I annoy you all the time. I annoy everyone all the time.”
“Even assuming that’s true, that doesn’t mean I’d hate you if I married you.”
“You know that’s why Sorin and Vlad kept you alive.”
“Yeah, I’d figured that one out.”
She hesitated and then decided she might as well take the conversation to its logical conclusion. “But you wouldn’t love me.”
“And how do you know that?”
Ani frowned. “Ren, this isn’t funny. I’m one of your captors. My brother killed your father and all three of us have been ruling your country for two years.”
Ren reached out, touching her shoulder and gently turning her to face him. Then he used his other hand to tilt her chin up until they were eye to eye. “Are you really, Ani Opalin?”
She stared at him, speechless and dumbfounded, unable to break eye contact or speak, not sure what to say in light of the intensity in his blue eyes.
Finally, he let go. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, “doesn’t really matter.” He turned to look back out, but she shoved her hand into his shoulder to stop him.
“It does matter. I think it matters quite a lot. Are you saying you might…that you could…?”
“Love you?” he asked.
She nodded wordlessly, not sure what to say to that even if she were capable of words. She stood frozen as he reached up and lightly touched her cheek with his fingers.
“Think anyone’s watching?”
“Probably,” she somehow managed to get out.
“Good.” Then he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. For an instant, she stiffened instinctively before she let herself melt into it. The hand on his shoulder shifted up until it was threaded through his mussed hair. Far too quickly, he pulled back a bit, a crooked grin gracing his lips. “I definitely could.” Before she could speak, he held a cautionary finger to her lips, other hand still on her cheek. “That’s not a promise. That’s a let’s see how it goes.”
“That’s all I want,” she said softly and then smiled shyly. “I’ve never…before…you know, so that’s okay, really.”
He laughed, resting his forehead gently against hers. “I didn’t expect this.”
“I didn’t either,” she said truthfully. She had yearned for it, sure, but expected it? Never in a million years. She’d known better than to even truly hope.
Ren shifted, wrapping one arm around her waist so they were standing side-by-side looking out at the sunset. After a moment, she hesitantly laid her head against his shoulder. He squeezed her waist slightly in response and she felt herself smile, feeling like she could light up the whole world with joy at that moment.
Finally, as the sun dipped out of sight behind the mountains, Ani stirred.
“Not used to standing still so long?” Ren teased.
She giggled. “That and we should probably get back. I don’t want Vlad to think we’re taking advantage of his offer.”
“Good point. C’mon, you,” he said, tugging at her gently. She turned away from the landscape and carefully slipped her hand into his, not missing the smile that slipped across his face at the motion.
It seemed far too quickly before they reached Ren’s room. “I suppose you should probably go,” he said.
“Suppose I should.”
Neither of them made any motion to move from just inside Ren’s doorway, the location giving them some foolish sense of privacy from the guard standing only a couple feet away.
“What do you think your brothers will think of this?” Ren asked, sounding nervous for the first time.
“Don’t know and don’t particularly care. They should be ecstatic we’re doing all their work for them.” She caught the way he eyed her and knew her tone had come across as perhaps a touch too bitter, a touch too close to the interior.
Before Ren could answer, someone called Ani’s name. She recognized Old Bert’s voice immediately and sighed. “Yes?” she asked, sticking her head back out the door.
“Commander Dakamar and General Opalin are looking for you, Miss Ani.”
“All right, I’ll go find them in a minute.” She withdrew into the room. “Hey, Renny?”
“Yes?” he asked.
“I’m afraid I’ve got to go, but I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll see you in a bit, then.”
“Try not to pine away without me, okay, Muffin?”
He did an honest to goodness doubletake. “Excuse me? Muffin?”
“Yes, muffin, Muffin.”
“Why muffin?” he asked cautiously.
“Because I like muffins. They’re tasty.”
“I don’t want to know the connection.”
“Bet you can guess.”
“Bet I don’t want to.”
Old Bert cleared his throat loudly.
“I think we’re delaying your friend.”
“Oh, are we? So sorry,” Ani said with false politeness, knowing Bert would pick up on it. “Well, Muffin, I must be off.”
“Just wait until I think of some terrible nickname for you.”
“Impossible.”
“And why’s that?”
“You’re too nice to be terrible.” She had to grin as his face twisted, trying to follow her logic.
“Wanna bet?” he finally settled on.
“Sure, since we both know I’d end up winning.”
“…Not fair.”
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, During NIEE
Challenges: Papaya 27 (wrapped around my finger), Green Tea 6 (sundown), Cheesecake 24 (On a bright cloud of music, shall we fly? My Treat: Ren falls in love with Ani when…)
Toppings & Extras: Hot Fudge (Ani is technically at this point), Sprinkles (Ani), Malt (Summer Challenge 2010: Ice Cream 65 - Someone comes up with a creative nickname for your main character that may or may not have anything to do with their actual name), Gummy Bunnies (Origfic Bingo: Marriage)
Word Count: 1,717
Rating: PG
Summary: Ani and Ren have an important talk about the future
Notes: From my My Treat from Marina! A bit from the edits I’m doing of the NIEE proper. Almost pure Ani/Ren fluff!
Ani motioned the guard out of the way and burst back into Ren’s room, beaming. “Ren!”
He didn’t respond, gaze directed out his window.
“Ren,” she tried again and then her patience immediately ran out. “Renier Highcastle, on your feet,” she bellowed.
He shot up and saluted before he recognized what was going on. Then he glared. “That was not funny.”
She just grinned. “Sorry, Renny. It was the only way I could get your attention.”
To her amusement, he stuck his tongue out at her childishly. “Still not funny.”
“I have good news!”
“Yeah?” he asked without any energy.
“We’re going for a walk.”
“We’re doing what?” he asked blankly.
“We’re going for a walk.”
He still gazed at her like he didn’t understand the words.
“You, me, out of the room, walking…?”
“I…wait, what?”
She rolled her eyes. “Gods’ Breath, Renny, catch up. You an’ me are going to go for a walk right now around the castle.”
His expression darkened. “That’s not funny either.”
“I’m telling you the truth.” She twisted her hands nervously. “I thought it…it might cheer you up and make you happier.”
A glimmer of hope crackled to life in his eyes. “You aren’t kidding?”
“Of course not! I wouldn’t do that. Vlad’s promised if you behave we can do it at least once a week. I’m sure I could convince him of more.”
Before she could even finish the sentence, he stepped forward and hugged her. “Thank you,” he whispered.
She smiled, trying to contain some of her joy at the simple motion. “Welcome. Oh, and someone’s gonna come in while we’re gone and get your window open, so you’ll still have bars but you’ll also have fresh air.”
He pushed her back to arm’s length, eyes suspiciously wet. “Gods’ Breath, Ani, how…”
“Just smile once in a while, okay? And maybe try a laugh once a month,” she said, deciding to keep it simple and unattached, and then tugged at his hand. “C’mon, let’s go!”
He needed no second urging. As they left the room, Ren glanced at his guards, plainly expecting them to follow.
“They’re staying there,” she told him. “This place is crawling with guards. They’re around every corner and through every doorway. If you were to go running off or anything, you wouldn’t make it five feet without being tackled by some burly man in too much armor with a big old axe.”
Ren paused a moment to look at her.
“What?”
He shook his head but smiled. “Nothing at all, Ani.” Then he took a deep breath and sighed happily.
After a few moments, Ani couldn’t contain her joy and started skipping alongside his walk, humming under her breath. She finally shot him a mischievous look. “You should skip too.”
“Excuse me?”
“You should skip like me. Humming helps too.”
“I don’t really…I haven’t…what?” he managed, sounding desperate.
She grabbed his arm, ignoring his protests, and began skipping again. “Skip, Renny.”
He hesitated a second and then tried out a few skips before laughing. She skidded to a stop, leaving him to continue a few steps without her. “What? Did I do something wrong?”
“No, no, but…Ren, you laughed.”
He blinked. “I did, didn’t I?” He let out another quick laugh. “It feels good…to have something to laugh about.” Then he shot her what she could only consider a sly smile. “And someone to laugh with.”
She blushed and leaned forward, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek try and cover the reddening. “You have a nice laugh. You should try and use it more often.” She turned to continue, but a hand on her arm stopped her. As far as she could recall, it was one of the first times in their relationship that Ren had initiated physical contact - the hug had also been a shock.
“Thanks, Ani, really. I appreciate this so much.”
“My pleasure,” she said softly.
Now he held out his hand. “Let’s skip.”
She laughed, ducking her head briefly. “Let’s,” she said, taking it.
The two of them skipped out to the ramparts where they paused, slightly out of breath, to lean against the wall. “I’ve missed this,” Ren said after a moment, gesturing out at the farmyards below. “I’ve missed the view and I’ve missed being outdoors. It always drove my father nuts that I hated to be inside too long, although he understood and always said I’d grow out of it like he did.”
“Makes sense,” she said, staring resolutely out at the farms. He was merely grateful for the chance to get outside, but his gratitude would fade and he’d go back to barely tolerating her. Everyone did. Even Sorin could barely deal with her any more. “Would you hate it if you had to marry me?” she asked softly, pursing her lips as soon as the question was out and definitely not daring to look at him now.
His answer caught her by surprise. “Of course not, Ani.”
“But I’m always so…” She waved her hand helplessly to try and illustrate what she meant.
“It’s kind of refreshing.”
He’s just being nice, he’s just being nice, because he owes you. “I know I annoy you all the time. I annoy everyone all the time.”
“Even assuming that’s true, that doesn’t mean I’d hate you if I married you.”
“You know that’s why Sorin and Vlad kept you alive.”
“Yeah, I’d figured that one out.”
She hesitated and then decided she might as well take the conversation to its logical conclusion. “But you wouldn’t love me.”
“And how do you know that?”
Ani frowned. “Ren, this isn’t funny. I’m one of your captors. My brother killed your father and all three of us have been ruling your country for two years.”
Ren reached out, touching her shoulder and gently turning her to face him. Then he used his other hand to tilt her chin up until they were eye to eye. “Are you really, Ani Opalin?”
She stared at him, speechless and dumbfounded, unable to break eye contact or speak, not sure what to say in light of the intensity in his blue eyes.
Finally, he let go. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, “doesn’t really matter.” He turned to look back out, but she shoved her hand into his shoulder to stop him.
“It does matter. I think it matters quite a lot. Are you saying you might…that you could…?”
“Love you?” he asked.
She nodded wordlessly, not sure what to say to that even if she were capable of words. She stood frozen as he reached up and lightly touched her cheek with his fingers.
“Think anyone’s watching?”
“Probably,” she somehow managed to get out.
“Good.” Then he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. For an instant, she stiffened instinctively before she let herself melt into it. The hand on his shoulder shifted up until it was threaded through his mussed hair. Far too quickly, he pulled back a bit, a crooked grin gracing his lips. “I definitely could.” Before she could speak, he held a cautionary finger to her lips, other hand still on her cheek. “That’s not a promise. That’s a let’s see how it goes.”
“That’s all I want,” she said softly and then smiled shyly. “I’ve never…before…you know, so that’s okay, really.”
He laughed, resting his forehead gently against hers. “I didn’t expect this.”
“I didn’t either,” she said truthfully. She had yearned for it, sure, but expected it? Never in a million years. She’d known better than to even truly hope.
Ren shifted, wrapping one arm around her waist so they were standing side-by-side looking out at the sunset. After a moment, she hesitantly laid her head against his shoulder. He squeezed her waist slightly in response and she felt herself smile, feeling like she could light up the whole world with joy at that moment.
Finally, as the sun dipped out of sight behind the mountains, Ani stirred.
“Not used to standing still so long?” Ren teased.
She giggled. “That and we should probably get back. I don’t want Vlad to think we’re taking advantage of his offer.”
“Good point. C’mon, you,” he said, tugging at her gently. She turned away from the landscape and carefully slipped her hand into his, not missing the smile that slipped across his face at the motion.
It seemed far too quickly before they reached Ren’s room. “I suppose you should probably go,” he said.
“Suppose I should.”
Neither of them made any motion to move from just inside Ren’s doorway, the location giving them some foolish sense of privacy from the guard standing only a couple feet away.
“What do you think your brothers will think of this?” Ren asked, sounding nervous for the first time.
“Don’t know and don’t particularly care. They should be ecstatic we’re doing all their work for them.” She caught the way he eyed her and knew her tone had come across as perhaps a touch too bitter, a touch too close to the interior.
Before Ren could answer, someone called Ani’s name. She recognized Old Bert’s voice immediately and sighed. “Yes?” she asked, sticking her head back out the door.
“Commander Dakamar and General Opalin are looking for you, Miss Ani.”
“All right, I’ll go find them in a minute.” She withdrew into the room. “Hey, Renny?”
“Yes?” he asked.
“I’m afraid I’ve got to go, but I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll see you in a bit, then.”
“Try not to pine away without me, okay, Muffin?”
He did an honest to goodness doubletake. “Excuse me? Muffin?”
“Yes, muffin, Muffin.”
“Why muffin?” he asked cautiously.
“Because I like muffins. They’re tasty.”
“I don’t want to know the connection.”
“Bet you can guess.”
“Bet I don’t want to.”
Old Bert cleared his throat loudly.
“I think we’re delaying your friend.”
“Oh, are we? So sorry,” Ani said with false politeness, knowing Bert would pick up on it. “Well, Muffin, I must be off.”
“Just wait until I think of some terrible nickname for you.”
“Impossible.”
“And why’s that?”
“You’re too nice to be terrible.” She had to grin as his face twisted, trying to follow her logic.
“Wanna bet?” he finally settled on.
“Sure, since we both know I’d end up winning.”
“…Not fair.”